Post straightening jack



y 1952 E. E. BARBER POST STRAIGHTENING JACK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1946 fdford E .fiamhe 2- y 0, 1952 E. E. BARBER 7 2,596,976

POST STRAIGHTENING JACK Filed 001',- 17, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I uzeutor Patented May 20, 1952 urrso srr 'Ihefpresent invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for straightening the posts of parking meters and similar post's imbedded in concrete without requiring removal of the posts.

The posts provided for supporting parking meters frequently become bent by vehicles coming into contact therewith and usually it is the practice of removing the posts from the concrete in order to straighten the same and which requires considerable time and labor, since the post is imbedded in concrete.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a post straightening jack by means of which the post may be straightened without necessitating removal thereof from the concrete.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be easily and quickly anchored in position adjacent the base of the post for supporting a jack in an inclined position to exert pressure against the post in a direction to straighten the same.

Another object is to provide a portablepost straightening device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view illustrating the use of a hook for connecting the base of the device to a post.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view thereof, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified anchoring attachment for the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a U-shaped angle iron member providing an elongated supporting base at the open end of which is welded or otherwise secured a cross-plate 6 through which a vertical adjusting screw 1 is threaded, the screw having a base 8 secured at its lower end and provided at its upper end with transversely extending and manipulating handles 9.

The base 8 of the adjusting screw I is placed on the surface of a street II] with the closed end of the base 5 resting on the curbing II and embracing a post I2 adjacent its lower portion, the

:lower 3 end. of "the i post being imbedded: in the sidewalk I3 and employed for supporting a parking'meter (not shown) on theupper. end thereof.

In order to straighten the: posts which .have been bent outwardlytoward the curbing as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings a sectional clamping collar It is secured to the upper portion of the post by a bolt or nut I5, the collar being formed with a lug I5 projecting from one side thereof.

The numeral l1 designates a conventional form of jack which may comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic jack, or other type of manually or power operated jack and which in the present instance, includes a cylinder I8 having a plunger l9 working therein and with a head 20 at the upper end of the plunger engaging the lug I6.

The jack base 2! is removably positioned in a tray-like member 22 positioned between a pair of upright plates 23 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the sides of the base 5 adjacent the outer end of the latter. The tray 22 is provided with extension plates 24 at the sides thereof positioned between the upright plates 23 and pivotally attached thereto by means of a transverse pin 25 for vertical swinging movement of the jack.

The jack also includes a manipulating handle 26 for manual operation of the plunger I9 by a forward and backward movement of the handle.

In the operation of the device, the base 5 supported at one end on the screw 5 and with its other end embracing the lower portion of the post l2, the jack II is tilted in a position to engage the'lug I5 adjacent the upper bent end of the post whereupon through the operation of the jack pressure will be exerted on the post to straighten the same into the position as shown by the full lines in Figure 2.

Where it is desired to position the lower end of the jack further away from the post a transverse pin 2'! is placed transversely of the base 5 adjacent its inner end and to which one end of a hook 28 is secured with the hook projecting forwardly of the base 5 to engage the lower portion of the post l2.

Also, if desired, a U-shaped anchoring member 23 may be interchangeably connected to the pin 2'! for engaging the post I2 in place of the hook 28.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim: In a post straightening device, a U-shaped ground engaging base member adapted to straddle the post with the bight end of said base mem-.

ber engaged with the post, a cross member connecting the ends of said base member and having a ground engaging jack screw threaded,

therethrough for levelling said base member on the ground, a clamp attachable to the post above vunder said lug for upward pressure against said lugdiagonally of said post.

EDFORD E. BARBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 805,628 Buttner Nov. 28, 1905 942,592 7 Schneider Dec. 7, 1909 991,913 Von Engeln May 9, 1911 1,010,759 Henning Dec. 5, 1911 1,231,462 Tutwiler June 26, 1917 1 1,267,308 Belgard May 21, 1918 1,749,806 Fisher Mar. 11, 1930 1,793,415 Quensenberry Feb. 17, 1931 2,107,589 Trail Feb. 8, 1938 2,200,133 Mandl May 7, 1940 2,297,556 Hermann Sept. 29, 1942 2,371,659 Stultz Mar. 20, 1945 

